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Take up matter with Pakistan govt, Cong tells Centre
Diesel VAT hike fuels
Congress-Akali war of words Rates increased to mobilise funds, claims SAD
Ludhiana killings: AAP seeks Deputy CM’s resignation
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PPP seeks release of Kuwait detainees
Bajwa reacts to Capt’s barb, calls him ‘king’
Mend ways: Ripjit to Cong leaders
Tension after shrine ‘besieged’ in Nagpur
Girl killed for honour in Batala
Rs 22 lakh looted from Punjab Roadways workshop
Namdhari leaders attacked, 2 held
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Take up matter with Pakistan govt, Cong tells Centre
Chandigarh, October 4 The resolution expressed serious concern over the security of Sikhs in Pakistan. The Sikhs from the border regions had migrated to Peshawar in large numbers. But, they are not even safe in Peshawar where 60 per cent of their business establishments had been shut down. The resolution also referred to the migration of Hindus from Pakistan to India who are yet to be rehabilitated. Partap Singh
Bajwa, PPCC chief, demanded withdrawal in the hike of VAT on diesel. He alleged it was a fact that struggle for power had been going on within the Badal family. "I sympathise with Chief Minister Parkash Singh
Badal. He is under lot of pressure. He cannot even order the transfer of any officer in the Bathinda parliamentary constituency without getting a green signal from his family members," Bajwa alleged. The meetings were held as per the directive of the
AICC. The state units have been told to hold meetings of the DCCs every first Saturday of the month and those of the block committees every second Saturday. SGPC makes appeal Amritsar: The SGPC today appealed the Pakistan Government to ensure safety of the Sikhs living in the neighbouring nation in view of the recent killings of some members of the community. In a statement, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said eight Sikhs had been killed in Pakistan over the last 18 months, which was highly condemnable. He said it had taken a toll on the normal life of the Sikhs as their business had been adversely affected. Makkar said the education of their children had also been hit due to these incidents.
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Diesel VAT hike fuels
Congress-Akali war of words
Fazilka, October 4 Jakhar has termed the hike as “betrayal” by the SAD-BJP coalition with the farmers and the common man. “The financial crisis facing Punjab and the bickering with alliance partner BJP has made Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal jittery,” he said. The Congress leader was talking to The Tribune after attending the monthly meeting of the party workers of Fazilka district here today. “The coffers are empty and now the BJP-led Union Government’s refusal to grant financial assistance to Punjab has left the Badal father-son duo in a huff,” said Jakhar. He said the farmers had already been paying maximum VAT on diesel and petrol in Punjab and further increase had put extra burden on them. Lashing out at the Centre, Jakhar said its intention to fight against terrorism was exposed when it refused to join action against ISIS. “The law and order situation in Punjab is in its worst phase. Two youths were shot dead in Jamalpur in the presence of police officials, who were friendly with the assassins,” he said. The Leader of Opposition said the Chief Minister, during his visit to Abohar on September 15, had announced that the canals would be maintained properly. “Despite the assurance, nothing has been done so far,” he said.
Rates increased to mobilise funds, claims SAD
Chandigarh, October 4 Maheshinder Singh Grewal, SAD general secretary, said the rate of diesel in Punjab was among the lowest in the country. He claimed it was appropriate for the government to increase VAT by 1 per cent keeping in view the state's agrarian economy. Grewal lauded the government’s bold move to increase VAT on cold drinks and cigarettes by 5 and 9.5 per cent. He said the funds so generated could be used to give further boost to development. Countering Partap Singh Bajwa's statement on the issue, Grewal said the Punjab Congress chief had only been trying to ward off criticism for his own failures. “Bajwa finds himself completely isolated in Punjab. He has had to even bear the brunt of the party high command's anger recently due to his repeated failures at the hustings,” he said. Bajwa had yesterday said: “Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal owes an explanation to the people as to why VAT has been increased by 1 per cent in Punjab when it is already being charged at 8.75 per cent. You can’t have double standards on every issue.” The SAD general secretary said it was unfortunate that the PPCC president never voiced his resentment when petrol and diesel rates were increased many a time during the UPA rule. He also asked Bajwa to explain why he did not appreciate the move of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cut petrol prices twice recently. “.
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Ludhiana killings: AAP seeks Deputy CM’s resignation
Chandigarh, October 4 He urged the authorities to book Rajwinder Kaur, sarpanch of Bohapur village, in the case of murder of two Dalit brothers in Ludhiana a few days ago. The victims, Jatinder Singh and Harinder Singh, belonged to Bohapur village, near Machhiwara. Chhotepur also sought dismissal of the suspended Khanna Senior Superintendent of Police. Addressing a press conference along with family members of the victims, Chhotepur called upon political parties to join hands to check "police repression on political opponents" of the SAD-BJP alliance. He said the next course of action would be decided on October 7 at Bohapur where the bhog ceremony of the deceased youth would be held. He alleged a CBI inquiry should be ordered since the state police assisted an Akali leader in killing the two brothers. Chhotepur said the "politicisation" of the police had led to deterioration of law and order situation in the state. He said the two brothers had put up a polling camp in support of AAP candidate Harinder Singh Khalsa during the Lok Sabha elections and ensured a lead of 270 votes from Bohapur village for him. The SAD leaders had been nursing a grudge against them since then, he alleged. Victims’ kin fear for life Satpal Singh, father of the murdered youths, who accompanied Chhotepur at the press conference here today, alleged his family was receiving threats. He said the police was keeping a watch on the people coming to their house to express grief over his sons' killing. He urged the police to register a case against the village sarpanch. He alleged since the crime was supported by certain leaders of the ruling party, there was a need to hand over the case to the CBI.
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PPP seeks release of Kuwait detainees
Chandigarh, October 4 In a statement, Manpreet said these nine workers had been in jail for the alleged killing of two Egyptian workers following a brawl on August 26. Manpreet said the families of these workers in Punjab, however, had been informed that the two workers had died a natural death, and that the brawl had nothing to do with it. He claimed several other workers who too had been arrested in the same case had been released after it was established that the deaths were natural. The PPP chief regretted the “indifferent attitude” of the Centre and the Punjab Government towards these youths, who were in jail for no fault of theirs and merely on suspicion. Manpreet urged the state government to take up their case with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the Indian Embassy in Kuwait at its own should have taken up their case. He pointed out it was not for the first time that the Indian youth had been detained abroad in such a manner. He said as a large number of Indian workers were employed in Arabian countries, the Centre must evolve some mechanism to come to the rescue whenever they landed in some trouble. He said the law in these countries was known to be too harsh and workers caught in such situations had nobody to look up to.
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Bajwa reacts to Capt’s barb, calls him ‘king’
Jalandhar, October 4 Bajwa said Captain had every right to say anything and everything against him. The PPCC chief was here to attend the first monthly meeting of the District Congress Committee. He said three resolutions had been passed, including rejection of 1 per cent increase in VAT on diesel. He said he would write to the Prime Minister asking him to send a delegation to Pakistan to counter the killings of eight Sikhs in recent past. The third decision, he said, pertained to "diversion" of central funds meant for the welfare of Dalits and minorities on other projects. Bajwa said the high command had directed the state unit to hold a district-level meeting every first Saturday and another at block-level every second Saturday of the month. He said the vacant posts of office-bearers would be filled in the next 10 days. He said it would be mandatory for the area MPs, MLAs, senior leaders, councillors and office-bearers to attend the meetings. "In case, any party leader doesn't attend meetings for three consecutive times, the observers will be asked to file a report against him. Local issues will be discussed and protests against the government will be planned at the meetings," Bajwa said. On controversy over the appointment of Kittu Grewal as Punjab Mahila Congress president, he said he had sent his report to the high command which he did not want to discuss. On Haryana elections, he said he had been asked to address rallies in 21 constituencies there.
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Mend ways: Ripjit to Cong leaders
Muktsar, October 4 Talking to The Tribune, Ripjit, an executive member of the PCC, said: "In the last two weeks, we are pained to see the conduct of the two senior most leaders of our party. While Bajwa is appointing block-level office-bearers without consulting anyone, Captain remains inaccessible as ever." He said Amarinder Singh, after his remarkable victory from the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat, was not ready to change. Nearly 20 rich and influential people, who enjoyed proximity with him and wielded immense power, did not even let grass-roots level worker to meet Captain, he alleged. He said this "five-star culture" had robbed the Congress of its chance to form the government in 2007 and again in 2012. "The party will meet a similar fate in 2017 if these two leaders do not change their ways. There is confusion in the state leadership on how to move ahead as a cohesive party. The PCC chief has been rendered misfit to lead the party. He was never accepted as a mass leader," said Ripjit. Ripjit backed Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu as the next leader of the state Congress. "He is a two-time MP and belongs to a reputed family of the state," he said.
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Distress paddy sale in Moga
Moga, October 4 The MSP for the Kharif Marketing Season 2014-15 has been fixed at Rs 1,360 per quintal for the common variety and Rs 1,400 per quintal for Grade-A varieties. Sources say some farmers are selling their produce for just Rs 1,300 per quintal. Farmers alleged the government procurement agencies, millers, authorities and traders had connived with each other to fleece them. Nek Singh of Dagru village, Swaran Singh of Moga, Balwinder Singh of Dagru and other farmers said they sold their paddy crop at low rates in the Moga grain market due to high moisture content in the crop. Till Saturday evening, the private purchasers had purchased 1,866 MT paddy, while government agencies had purchased just 161 MT paddy in Moga. Private players were purchasing most of the foodgrain due to the indifferent attitude of the government agencies. Most of the paddy in Moga has been purchased by the rice millers of Dharamkot and Baghapurana sub-divisions. They had failed to hand over the custom milled rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for its central pool of last year. The millers were now purchasing paddy to replenish their stock. Last year, 11.71 lakh MT of paddy had arrived in the district, but this year it is likely to decrease by 10 to 12 per cent due to rise in cultivation of basmati varieties. This year, the area under paddy cultivation is 1,37,000 hectares, while basmati has been cultivated on 36,000 hectares. The FCI will purchase 10 per cent of the expected paddy arrival, PUNSUP 23 per cent, Markfed 22 per cent, Pungrain 25 per cent, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation 11 per cent and Punjab Agro Foodgrains Corporation 9 per cent. Farmers losing out *
The MSP for 2014-15 has been fixed at Rs 1,360 per quintal for the common variety and Rs 1,400 per quintal for Grade-A varieties *
Sources say some farmers are selling their produce for just Rs 1,300 per quintal'.
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Tension after shrine ‘besieged’ in Nagpur
Chandigarh, October 4 Mann said he had spoken to the police in Nagpur and urged them to ensure the safety of the Sikhs. “Our party will soon send a team to Nagpur,” he added. — TNS
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Girl killed for honour in Batala
Sri Hargobindpur (Batala), October 4 For the last 72 hours, the residents and the police had been claiming that the teenaged girl, Paramjit Kaur, a resident of Kiri Afghana village, was a victim of “honour killing”. But the sequence of events leading to the girl’s disappearance had left the policemen clueless, following which the murder was being classified as a “blind murder”. The fact that the five accused had tried to remove evidence only added to the theory of it being a blind murder. The police were confounded and started working on several theories and angles, but to no avail. The FIR was lodged at the insistence of the girl’s friend, Shamsher Singh, at Sri Hargobindpur police station. The FIR was registered on September 30 evening, the day the girl went missing. Surinder Mohan, Station House Officer, said the police had arrested one of the girl’s uncles while a manhunt had been launched to arrest four persons. Deputy Superintendent of Police Parminder Singh claimed Paramjit’s parents neither informed the police nor made any effort to locate her. This made the police all the more suspicious as despite their denials, word had already spread that a girl of the village was missing. The police officer said the girl’s body was recovered from the Beas near Bhet Pattan village, where her maternal grandparents lived. Shamsher Singh, also a resident of Kiri Afghana village, told the police that “Paramjit wanted to marry him, but her parents were against the matrimonial alliance”. The boy also told the police that Paramjit's parents had allegedly murdered her and thrown the body into the Beas. The police have registered a case of murder against the girl’s father, Lakhbir Singh, and paternal uncles Balbir Singh and Baljit Singh, and maternal uncles Jagtar Singh and Sakkater Singh. Was missing since September 30 *
Though missing since September 30, the girl's parents did not approach the police *
A village youth, who claimed to be in a relationship with the girl, approached the police *
The girl's body was recovered from the Beas near Sri Hargobindpur on Saturday
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Rs 22 lakh looted from Punjab Roadways workshop
Amritsar, October 4 The miscreants brutally thrashed the security guard before storming into the cashier room and decamping with the money. They kept the cashier, Mandeep Singh, hostage and tied him before fleeing the spot. The security guard, identified as Gurdeep Singh, an ex-serviceman, sustained blunt weapon injuries. He was admitted to Army hospital from where he was shifted to a private hospital. His condition was stated to be serious. Balkar Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police (North), said the incident occurred around 1.30 am. The cashier reportedly had bus ticket proceeds of the last couple of days. He could not deposit these in bank due to holiday since Wednesday, the police officer said. He said the role of an insider could not be ruled out. The police teams reached the spot around 2.15 am after receiving a call from the guard. Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa, Station House Officer (Civil Lines), said the police were working on different theories. Charanjit Singh Brar, General Manager, Punjab Roadways workshop (Amritsar-I), said according to Maninder, the accused were armed.
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Namdhari leaders attacked, 2 held
Ludhiana, October 4 Sources said there was tension between two factions of the religious sect over the possession of a Namdhari gurdwara in Partap Nagar here. The police had called both the groups to visit the Dugri police station for resolving the issue. Navtej Singh, president, International Namdhari Sangat, and Harvinder Singh, general secretary, reached the police station, but members of the other group failed to turn up. Navtej Singh alleged when they were coming out of the police station, several persons belonging to the opposite faction arrived and assaulted him and Harvinder, besides damaging his car. A case was registered. The police arrested two persons, identified as Niranjan Singh and Balwant Singh. There have been several incidents in the past where the two factions of Namdharis had clashed. A faction led by Dalip Singh had recently sat on a dharna demanding unconditional access to pay obeisance at Bhaini Sahib. Both the groups had levelled allegations of assault against each other.
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Aam Aadmi Party's state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur today demanded Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal's resignation for his "failure to rein in" the state police.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Partap Singh Bajwa today said Capt Amarinder Singh "is a king while I am a pauper". He said this in reaction to Captain's statement that he did not invite Bajwa to his party to celebrate Preneet Kaur's Patiala byelection win saying that he
(Bajwa) was neither his supporter nor his well-wisher.
